Reviews by katybee:

Hmmm. This beer seemed to go through several different 'moods' after it poured, warmed up, and went flat. Have to say, this is the first beer I would have added more hops to, and was better with the carbonation.

Lovely opaque dark brown appearance, but the very minimal creamy head quickly disipated. It did however stick around as a lacey rim.

Smell definitely of malt, although light.

But the taste was definitely malty also. I love malt, and usually wish for fewer hops pungence. But this lacked balance and leaned toward almost malt vinegar-ish. Perhaps this is the 'dry' style, like Guiness. I found it lacked any espresso character, and no hops spiceyness to balance the predominant roasted malt, with no sweetness, or fruity esthers or breadiness... just malt. Like a flat barleywine, barely there. And when it warmed up it was like thin malt vinegar without the acidity...

Mouthfeel was nothing without the soon disipated carbonation to add any tingle. Too thin for me; not creamy at all, and went flat quickly.

Maybe my bottle was skunked. Maybe the added coffee thinned it too much. I just found too much barley malts and not enough balance. Live and learn!

More User Reviews:

A very impressive tiny-bubbled tan head forms--yeah, we know how to pour a beer. The head retention is certainly good enough to mention. Black color ... would we expect anything else from an Espresso Stout? Chocolate, molasses, dark berry, espresso and faintly smoky aroma. Smoothness skitters across the wet medium body. Espresso up front, with a mild roasted bitterness, which soon joins with the roasted grain to make more of a mocha impression on the palate. Within that mocha is more of a dark chocolate flavor, raisin/dark berry combo and some charcoal. Hops lean back and stay back with only a smidgen of flavor to be found. Roasted dry finish.

On the dry spectrum of Coffee Stouts, which really lets the espresso come through. A good drink for a coffee beer.

Thanks to someone for sharing this at the most recent Freetail bottle release.

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma is a mix of chocolate and coffee and is very strong. The flavor is more of the same. I get a ton of coffee and chocolate as well as some strong roasted malt notes. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice coffee stout.

Dark midnight with khaki lacing that fades gradually. Smells of all dark roasts with coffee. Yep, certainly a coffee smell there, and that pervades the taste, too. Put an ice cube in it and you can convince me that it is ice coffee. Dangerous!

Taste of coffee is complimented by some hints of dark chocolate, a creaminess that comes from the oats, dark malts that aren't too assertive--not burnt like some other stouts can be. Bitterness fades to an astringent ding that lasts just a second and is the only big ding on the experience. Mouthfeel is light for a stout, but overall a refreshing moderate body.

Pours a nice black color with firm beige head that sits about 1.33" in a very still manner while I watch the 1st half of the Marquette-Notre Dame game. DJO is ballin'. Aroma isn't really espresso, its more like old diner coffee. Now, this bottle is definitely not 'fresh' it is almost a year old. Some coffee beers hold up, some do not.

Flavorwise, the coffee is a little better than the aroma, nothing spectacular though. I needed a coffee beer with a 10AM tip this morning, so I grabbed this since I never meant to wait this long to try it in the first place. Nothing spectacular, its a dark, yet mild roast flavor, doesn't trigger visions of the lighter espresso flavor I'm used to. Hit those free throws Vander Blue. Chocolate malt, but not really an added chocolate flavor going on. Mildly bitter, body is average, like the carbonation.

A decent option at a decent price, it was good enough to make me pick up another bottle next time im in WA/OR and next time, I'll drink it fresh and see what happens.

A: black with dusty brown colors around the edges. A hazy foam on top, off-white cream in color. Thin watery ring of lace at the rim with lace fingers pointing down after a few sips

S: hint of chocolate with roasted coffee and malts. Hard to gather all flavors as coffee beans are most prominent

T: this one has a strong coffee profile overall, flavors are roasted and a touch of vanilla sweet. Sort of lacks in overall complexity as grains seem restrained and almost vanish. Soft cocoa cream and a slight astringency in the finish with stale hops

M: carbonated for a stout and caught me by surprise. Fizzy bite to this takes away quite a bit in the mouthfeel and overall vibe. I would consider this body mild, bubbly, and sharp

D: flavors in some regards come and go, coffee and more coffee. Don't get me wrong, I love coffee in my beers, but this one lacks overall elements to make it the least bit enjoyable. Body is not chunky enough for me and results in a slightly average experience

A- poured from bottle, light tan head about one finger thick dissipates fast. Beer is dark dark brown and lets no light through.
S- Not a ton going on. Some roasted malts, a little chocolate, and ground coffee. Coffee picks up as it warms.
T- Big coffee bitterness at first fades into chocolate malts. Coffee is the dominant flavor for sure, with roasted malt flavors coming out more as it warms up. Very little sweetness, a bit of piney hops after it hits its ideal temp.
M- Medium mouthfeel, oatmeal gives it a silky texture that coats but isnt sticky. Carbonation could be a tad less. Very nice for an American stout.
D- I enjoy stouts and usually find coffee stouts to be a bit overpowering after a while, but this one is much more drinkable. The coffee flavors blend in well with malts and really adds to the beer. This one is best at cellar temp.

Thanks to Jeff (ipa247) for this one. Poured from a 22oz. bomber into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

A: Standard pour barely yields a .5 finger fine, dark mocha head that dissipates quickly. Beer is opaque black and dense. Lacing is attractive. Spotty in parts and stringy in others with nice legs and good stick.

S: Nose is rather subtle. Roasted malt, big, bold espresso beans, a hint of dark chocolate, and liquorice. Really had to bury my nose in the brew to get anything though.

T: Opens extremely heavy on the coffee. Coffee bean bitterness with a slight touch of tart. Roasted malts add their touch of bitterness, smoke, and ash. As I let this one warm in my mouth, chocolate comes up ever so slightly towards the end. Coffee takes back over at the finish, which is accented with bitterness. Aftertaste is roasted malt and slight coffee sourness.

M: Medium bodied and moderately carbonated. Oily and slick in the mouth but sufficient carbonation keeps it from being heavy and viscous. Tingly and slightly grainy going down. Finish is accented and aftertaste lingers.

D: I'm not a huge coffee drinker so I'm not inclined to revisit this one. That being said though, I can see what is trying to be accomplished here and for those fans of big, roasty, coffee and coffee beers, this is a must try.